Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in horses and animal handlers in Baghdad city

Abstract

This study was conducted to detect the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in horses and their owners at Baghdad city (Al-Zawraa Zoo, Iraqi Equestrian Federation, Equestrian and Al- Dowanem), during the period 1/November/ 2014 to 31/April/ 2015. One hundred seventy eight sera (92 horses, and 86 animal handlers), were examined by Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The results were showed that the infection rate in horses by LAT was 67.39% (58% females and 78.57% males) and 32.6% by ELISA (28% females and 38% males). The higher infection rate 79.16% of horses was recorded in the age group 3-<6 years, while a lower infection rate 43.75% was found in the age group <1-<3years by the LAT, while in ELISA the higher infection rate 50% was recorded in the age group 9-<12 years and a lower infection rate 18.75% was found in the age group <1-<3 years. In animal handlers the infection rates were 65.62% and 58.139% by LAT and ELISA respectively and the age group 20-30 years was showed a higher infection rates 76.92% and 65.38%, and the lower infection rate 54.16% was recorded at the age group 30-40 years in Latex and ELISA respectively. Al-Zawraa Zoo, Iraqi Equestrian Federation, Equestrian and Al- Dowanem areas were showed the infection rates 70.37%, 64%, 68% and 66.66% by LAT respectively and the infection rates were 48.14%, 20%, 32% and 26.6% by ELISA in horses, while in animal handlers the infection rates in Al-Zawraa Zoo, Iraqi Equestrian Federation Equestrian and Al- Dowanem areas were 68.18%, 83.33%, 53.33%, 77.27% by LAT and 59%, 58.33%, 63.33%, 50% by ELISA respectively